Cape Verde — Remote Working Program (Digital Nomad Visa) Everything you need to live and work remotely from Africa
Knowledge Base – QUESTRAVEL
By Víctor Pizarro, Co-founder of QUESTRAVEL
Why Cape Verde
Trade mornings in a Sal beachfront café for afternoons wandering Mindelo’s music-soaked streets. Cape Verde (Cabo Verde) is a calm Atlantic archipelago with year-round sun, growing coworking options, and a government-backed Remote Working Program built for people who keep their income from outside the country.
What the program is
A dedicated temporary work/tourism visa that lets remote workers stay up to 6 months, with the option to renew once for another 6 months (max 12 months). You can apply solo or with family. Holders may live in Cape Verde while continuing to work for non-Cape Verdean employers or clients.
Who runs it & how it’s processed
The program is promoted on Cape Verde’s official tourism portal and administered with national immigration authorities. Applications are online, and you’ll receive an entry permit/e-visa to present on arrival, then complete the required border formalities.
Duration, fees & taxes (at a glance)
- Stay: 6 months + 6-month renewal (total up to 1 year).
- Fees: €20 visa fee (per person) + €34 airport fee (one-time, paid on arrival).
- Tax note: the official portal highlights exemption from Cape Verde income tax on your foreign earnings while on the program.
Eligibility & income (clear & human)
- You work remotely for a company outside Cape Verde or freelance for overseas clients.
- Passport, insurance, clean record, and sufficient funds are required.
- Income/funds guide (commonly referenced): many sources indicate €1,500 (individual) or €2,700 (family) average bank balance over the last 6 months. Treat this as a practical threshold and be ready to evidence it with bank statements; the online form may request this proof.
Tip: Keep your contract or client letters explicit about remote work for a non-Cape Verde entity and line up statements that clearly show your average balance/inflow.
What you can (and can’t) do
- Do: live in Cape Verde, work remotely for foreign employers/clients, travel between islands, and exit/re-enter as allowed by your visa conditions.
- Don’t: take local employment in Cape Verde under this visa.
Required documents (typical)
- Passport (valid at least 6 months) + passport photo
- Proof of remote work (contract/employer letter; for freelancers: invoices + registration/portfolio)
- Proof of funds/income (bank statements for the last 6 months; payslips/tax returns if available)
- Health insurance covering your full stay in Cape Verde
- Clean police record
- For family: marriage/birth certificates (apostilled/translated as required)
How to apply — step by step
- Prepare your pack: passport, photo, remote-work proof, funds/income evidence, insurance, police record.
- Apply online via the official Remote Working page; follow the form’s document checklist and upload PDFs.
- Pay the fee and submit. Track your application in the portal; approvals are issued electronically.
- Pre-register your travel (as instructed) and be ready to pay the airport fee on arrival.
- Arrive & present your approval at the border; comply with any additional checks and visa conditions.
- Renew before the 6-month mark if you plan to stay a full year and still meet the requirements.
On-the-ground tips
- Connectivity: mobile coverage is solid; coworking options are expanding on Sal and São Vicente.
- Island choice: Sal (beach & kite scene), Boa Vista (quiet sand-dune vibes), São Vicente (music & culture).
- Paper trail: keep PDFs tidy (same name format, clear scans). Consistency across contract ↔ statements ↔ insurance reduces back-and-forth.
One-page checklist (save this)
- [ ] Passport & photo
- [ ] Remote-work proof (foreign employer/clients)
- [ ] Bank statements (6 months) and/or payslips/tax returns
- [ ] Health insurance (explicit Cape Verde coverage)
- [ ] Police certificate
- [ ] Family civil docs (if applicable)
- [ ] Online application + €20 visa fee
- [ ] Travel pre-registration + €34 airport fee (on arrival)
- [ ] Renewal plan (if staying 12 months)
Want a done-right application?
We’ll pre-review your documents, align your income evidence to the program’s expectations, and map your Sal/Mindelo setup (SIM, coworking, housing). Book a consult at fromquestravel.com.
Official references
(Per your preference, links only here and the fromquestravel.com mention above.)
- Remote Working – Official Tourism Portal (Visit Cabo Verde): 6-month stay, renewal, visa & airport fees, tax note, and application links. (Visit Cabo Verde)
- Travel pre-registration portal (EASE): airport pre-registration referenced by the official page. (Visit Cabo Verde)
- Income/funds guidance (commonly cited): thresholds of €1,500 (individual) and €2,700 (family) over 6 months summarized by reputable overviews. (IMI Daily)
Last reviewed: November 6, 2025 (America/Santo_Domingo).
Updated on: 06/11/2025